Effectiveness Of Point-of-care Testing Research Articles

Sustainable solutions to barriers of point-of-care diagnostic testing services in health facilities without laboratories in the bono region, Ghana: a qualitative study

BackgroundA sustainable point-of-care (POC) diagnostic testing implementation in low-resourced facilities enhances quick diagnostic investigation and halts unnecessary referrals. This study identified the barriers impeding the implementation of POC diagnostic testing in health facilities without laboratories in the Bono Region of Ghana; as well as explored potential solutions that could enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of POC diagnostic testing, ultimately improving the quality of healthcare delivery.MethodsA total of twenty-eight participants were purposively selected from health facilities in low-resourced settings in the Bono Region for a descriptive qualitative study. Of the twenty-eight participants, seventeen including ten healthcare providers from CHPS facilities, six district health depot managers, and one regional depot manager were engaged in in-depth interviews. Additional eleven including nine healthcare providers and two district depot managers were also engaged in focus group discussions. NVivo version 12 software was employed for condensation, labelling, and grouping of themes. Data was analysed narratively.ResultsWork overloads, limited POC testing services, stock-outs of POC tests at the facilities, and supply-related challenges of POC test kits were identified as major barriers to POC testing services. To solve these barriers, adequate funding, an effective delivery system, stakeholders’ engagement and advocacy, and in-service and refresher training courses were suggested as potential solutions to POC diagnostic testing services implementation by the stakeholders.ConclusionsThis study’s findings emphasize the need to address the barriers hindering the implementation of POC diagnostic testing in health facilities without laboratories in the Bono Region of Ghana. The suggested solutions provide a roadmap for improving the accessibility and effectiveness of POC testing, which has the potential to enhance the quality of healthcare delivery, reduce unnecessary referrals, and ultimately improve patient health outcomes in underserved settings.

The effect of online point-of-care testing on patient waiting times in A&E

The point-of-care testing (POCT) team was constructed at the start of 2012 to implement the POCT project, which aims to define and test the hypothesis that interfacing POCT devices to a clinical electronic order communications system reduces patient waiting times in an NHS accident and emergency department. The Sysmex XS 1000i haematology analyser and the Abbott I-Stat analyser were selected for evaluation, offering a wide test profile. To assess the true effect of POCT on patient waiting times, the analysis was confined to cases associated with POCT only (n = 217). A control population (n = 229) was randomly selected from the clinical laboratory database. The interval between requesting a test and receiving the results for POCT tests was 23 minutes—60 minutes for laboratory tests. The patient waiting times were 167 minutes for the POCT group and 208 minutes for the clinical laboratory group—a difference of 41 minutes. The project confirmed that interfaced (online) POCT has many advantages with respect to the quality and safety of data management. Benefits include reliable identification of the requesting clinician and patient, and the assurance that the right result is allocated to the right patient. This study also demonstated that the quality of results produced by the POCT devices met the requirements of the clinical environment.

The point of care testing in general practice trial

Background Point of care testing (PoCT) may be a useful adjunct in the management of chronic conditions in general practice (GP). Pathology test results at the time of the consultation could lead to enhanced clinical management, better health outcomes, greater satisfaction for patients and general practitioners and savings in costs and time. Methods The Point of Care Testing in General Practice Trial was an Australian Government funded multi-centre, cluster randomised controlled trial to determine the safety, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and satisfaction of PoCT in a GP setting. It involved 53 urban, rural and remote practices, 221 GPs, 76 device operators and over 5000 patients. The Trial covered an 18 month period with the intervention consisting of the use of PoCT for seven tests used in the management of patients with diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and patients on anticoagulant therapy. Results The results show PoCT is safe to perform in a GP setting. For most tests, the effectiveness of PoCT is non-inferior (exception of INR and HDL). PoCT is not cost effective except for ACR, but HbA1c and lipids are in the tradeoff area. Stakeholders are more satisfied with PoCT and there were no significant geographical differences. Conclusions The trial provides evidence that PoCT does have a role in the management of chronic disease.